Academy Trials

How does recruitment work at Tottenham Hotspur Academy?

We have a network of scouts who work for the Club on a local, national and international basis. They look for players predominantly from Under-7s to Under-16s (the higher up the age groups, the less likely it becomes to be offered a trial – but it is by no means impossible). Once they identify a player, they recommend them to the Academy Recruitment Department, which then decides whether to proceed with the recommendation.

Do you run open trials, and how do I get a trial?

We do not hold open trials. We always watch players at their local clubs or schools before inviting them for a trial. Therefore, if you write in for a trial, you should always include a fixture list with kick-off times and venues for your team. You should also write a CV to tell us about your football background, including information such as date of birth, playing position, clubs previously played for and any representative honours such as those attained with school, district or county teams. Letters of reference and recommendation can help to support an application. We are only able to trial players with an EU passport, or who have ‘leave to remain’ documentation.

How do I know if a scout has been to watch me?

Unfortunately, you may never know. Our scouts are not always in club kit as the presence of a scout may put unnecessary pressure on the players, making them very nervous (this is especially true of younger players) or try much harder just because they think someone is watching them. You will only know if we make contact via your current club – we will always approach your coach or manager before making contact with a player’s parents.

What are we looking for?

Quite simply; talent. We understand that players come in all shapes and sizes, with a variety of strengths and weaknesses. We take into account a player’s technical, tactical, physical, psychological and social attributes, as well as looking at relative age effect and maturation rates. We also have to compare them to players currently in the Academy to assess whether a target player has the potential (we understand this may take time) to be better than the players we already have registered.

I keep contacting clubs, but never seem to get invited in. What can I do to get scouted?

Football is a hugely competitive profession in which to ‘make it’. Obviously talent is required, but it takes real resilience and determination to be successful in the game. Some people are noticed early on, and others develop later, so keep working hard, and keep emailing clubs at a variety of levels.

The higher the level you are currently playing at, the more likely you are to be noticed, so even if you don’t get a trial at Tottenham Hotspur, look to move up the leagues at whatever level you can. Don’t lose heart, and however far you get, do it for the enjoyment of the game – professional recognition is an obvious bonus, but a love of the game will give you satisfaction whatever the outcome!

Please email your information to academy.trials@tottenhamhotspur.com. Please remember we get hundreds of trial applications each week, so are not able to respond to emails, and we cannot watch everyone.